ROSE RAMBLER 10th MAY, 2018 …

Hello dear rose friends. And … drumroll … the WINNER IS: LISA MUNNS from LAVINGTON IN NSW

Sincere thanks to you all for your AMAZING support of this competition by emailing your answer and details accordingly … most of you got it right! Steph takes the prize for the most creative response:

Q. WHAT’S WORSE THAN FINDING A WORM IN YOUR APPLE?

A. FINDING HALF A WORM IN YOUR APPLE! Why? — because: (1) you have ingested some unexpected extra protein; and (2) you’ve lost the opportunity to put the apple and a lovely wriggling lively worm in your compost where the apple will break down, the worm will thrive and create lovely compost to PUT ON YOUR ROSES! 🙂 Kind regards …Stefanie

Along with this beautifully creative contribution from Sonia’s little girl: “Finding half a worm or a family of baby spiders, earwigs or a human eyeball … ewhh – yuk”

We were overwhelmed by the incredible number of email responses and we’re so pleased to be able to continue presenting this weekly Rose Rambler for your learning and gardening pleasure knowing so many of you actually continue to read it!

The reason we did such a low-key Rose Rambler last week was that I had had a rather serious car accident on MY dirt road into Kilmore and wrote-off Graham’s vehicle! I am 100% OK and a walking – talking miracle really! There was a lot to organise and the accident was a signal for me to slow down and take time out to ‘smell the roses’!
Graham and I will be taking time out in these next few weeks before the busy bare-rooted season starts. Ben and Tova are more than capable of holding the fort so continue to place your winter orders for bare-rooted roses!

NOW IS THE TIME TO ORDER YOUR ROSES FOR WINTER …

Here are a few highly recommended varieties which you MUST consider:

ALI BABA – is one of the most exciting new climbing roses because not only does it flower very, very continually but it holds a lot of healthy foliage throughout winter – a really important aspect of covering an area which would enjoy winter foliage! A very highly recommended rose!!!

DREAM CHASER – was one of the outstanding roses in the field this past summer – it’s got everything you want in a rose … highly fragrant, very easy care, extremely high-health and a lovely rounded shrub which just ‘fits in’ … you MUST have this beauty in your garden!

MY YELLOW – is absolutely stunning and again, extremely high-health, fragrant and it just doesn’t seem to EVER BE WITHOUT FLOWERS … we’ve been trialling this beauty in our gardens here at Clonbinane and it is EVERYTHING we never expected to enjoy in a yellow rose – an Australian-bred beauty by Bruce Brundrett and if you love YELLOW roses, then this is the rose you MUST grow – a real beauty!

If you don’t like online ordering then call us at the Rose Farm every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday when we are open – otherwise, order at www.rosesalesonline.com.auwhere you can see a plethora of beautiful photos of the roses available for ordering NOW.

GRA’S GARBLE …

Since you obviously all love a good joke, here’s my contribution for this week:

Q. What do you get if you cross a worm with a baby goat? A. A dirty kid!

Many of you will still have beautiful blooms for weeks to come in your rose garden so be sure to apply the organic management spray program regularly as it will retain healthy foliage for longer as the nights get cooler/damper – to 10 litres of water add:

1/4 cup ECO-ROSE / FUNGICIDE (these products are one and the SAME!!! Eco-Rose has a red coloured label and Eco-Fungicide has an aqua coloured label)
1 small scoop ECO-SEAWEED (the 600g pack is still on special because we forgot to change the price several weeks ago – you’ll make 120 x 9 litre watering cans of seaweed solution from each 600g pack! Real value at full price of $32.50 but currently just $25.00
1/4 cup ECO-OIL – although it is an insecticide, ECO-OIL also acts as a ‘sticker’ so it’s a very important component in the organic rose management spray.

Thoroughly mix all the products into a spray unit or watering can and cover rose foliage fortnightly during this cool/damp weather to keep foliage healthy right up to winter when all rose leaves will start to show signs of black-spot and yellowing.

Remember that this decline in healthy rose foliage is a NATURAL MECHANISM for roses to LOSE their FOLIAGE and go into winter dormancy. When they’ve completely defoliated it will be time to prune – more on that topic later.

Here’s an email exchange with Jodie in Queensland: “Hi Gra … my roses are all flowering and looking great – the only challenge I have is black spot. I have started to spray them with the special eco powder for black spot that I purchased from you, but I suppose it will take a number of more sprays before it starts to work?”

My response: The organic spray management program works very efficiently, effectively and economically when applied regularly and in line with prevalent weather conditions … so rather than wait for damp weather to affect rose foliage by staying damp overnight and increasing the possibility of black spot or mildew affecting the leaves, SPRAY BEFORE such weather is expected – if and when possible!

Just another thought … do you have the ECO OIL as well??? Always add that to the spray because it also acts as a ‘sticker’ … makes the fungicide and seaweed solution ‘stick’ to the foliage because it is oil based! If you don’t have ECO OIL you should at least add a dash of detergent – the soap will make the spray solution stick to the rose foliage …

Since I started with a joke, I’ll end with one also:

Q. Why did the singer climb a ladder? A. To reach the high notes! … cheers

TESTIMONIALS …

Thank you for continuing to send emails commending the quality of our roses, our helpful assistance with all manner of rose issues and your general approval of how we conduct our business.

In order to voice your opinion more widely, can you please submit your testimonial on here, so that potential customers will confidently allow us at Silkies Rose Farm and www.rosesalesonline.com.au to encourage them the pleasure of growing beautiful roses in their gardens!

Be sure to ‘smell the roses’ while they are still flowering in your garden and a very HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to all the wonderful Mum’s / Grandmother’s and Women in general who make this country a loving place for all of us!

Graham, Diana, Mooi and the crew of helpers: Ben, Tova and Leigh.

May 3, 2018July 22, 2018

ROSE RAMBLER 3RD MAY, 2018 …

Hello dear rose friends as we enter the last weeks of autumn and the cold weather is starting to shut down our rose flowering for this season – we’ve already had some below zero frosts here at Clonbinane!

This is a very brief Rose Rambler offering you a chance to go into a draw for a spectacular MOTHER’S DAY GIFT PACK which includes the following:

* Chair not included

DE WIT (Made in Holland) 4 Tine Garden Fork ($75.00), ALL ABOUT ROSES book ($30.00), LOWE SECATEURS ($62.50) along with our favourite rose gardener’s gloves, organic rose management pack and a ROSE BUSH of your choice – TOTAL VALUE $300(includes pack/post if necessary!)

ALL CORRECT ANSWERS to Graham’s joke will be placed in a draw for this great MOTHER’S DAY GIFT PACK to be drawn at the Rose Farm on MONDAY, 7TH MAY at 9.30am (so that it can be posted in time for Mother’s Day gifting).

When answering the joke via email to: info@rosesalesonline.com.au please don’t forget to include your name, phone number and postal address!

Here’s the joke Graham chose:

Q. WHAT’S WORSE THAN FINDING A WORM IN YOUR APPLE?

Have a great week in your garden and we’ll be back with lots of rose garden talk next week … cheers from Graham, Diana and the team at Clonbinane.

April 26, 2018July 22, 2018

ROSE RAMBLER 26TH APRIL, 2018 …

Hello dear rose friends as we bask in the glory of autumn and our rose garden looks its most majestic best and we enjoy planting a new area of garden with all the potted roses we ‘snavelled’ from stock throughout this past season!

GRA’S GARBLE …

I haven’t been able to help myself – madly planting lots of kale and silver beet, the pansy border is done and I’ll definitely get the team to assist with planting more roses in MY GARDEN BED! The last few bulbs will go in this week too and I expect a truly magnificent display coming spring.

Q. What do you call a cow with no legs? A. Ground beef!

We all have a different style and approach to gardening – mine is random and without order, Diana is orderly and tidy – she weeds and mulches in timely fashion and usually according to moon phases so HER gardens usually look neat and well-tended. Neither of us ‘over think’ colour blending because we know from experience that all the colours work together … I guess we complement each other in our different styles of gardening yet we definitely appreciate OUR OWN GARDEN while we work the entire property very much as a team!

Q. Why did the Math book look so sad? A. Because it had so many problems!

If you need a hand with selecting rose varieties or planning a rose garden this winter, please don’t hesitate to send your wish-list and some pictures, perhaps a rough mud-map with dimensions so that we can assist you to plant the rose garden of your dreams!
I hope you’re planting your garden in readiness for a mass of winter veggies and colourful display with annuals such as pansies –

Be sure to plant some more roses in your garden during this most ideal season for rose planting!

While the soil is warm, the roses will settle well before a light winter pruning and perform as well-established roses when they flower this coming spring. Perhaps my spontaneous SPECIAL OFFER will prompt you to come and do WALK ‘N’ TALK IN THE GARDEN WITH GRAHAM THIS COMING SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AT 1.00 PM EACH DAY – BRING KIDS AND PETS ON A LEAD Here’s my SPECIAL OFFER …

FROM: FRIDAY 27TH APRIL – MONDAY 30TH APRIL INCL. MASSIVE 40% OFF ALL POTTED ROSES
IN THE NURSERY
JUST IN TIME TO PURCHASE SOME BEAUTIFUL ROSES FOR MOTHER’S DAY

Here are a few suggestions of roses which are performing at their absolute autumn BEST in the nursery NOW

MAGGIE

HOT COCOA

SPIRIT OF RURAL WOMEN

LA SEVILLANA

SOUL MATE

GRA’S BLUE

EMAIL FROM JUDY: PERFUME PASSION is my new favourite! …

Hi Diana …Hope you are well! The perfume is to die for…gorgeous form…red new growth…healthy, no bugs…what more could you want? 😊

People often ask us which rose is our favourite – both of us genuinely love roses for their enduring beauty, continual flowering, amazing fragrances and simply because they afford us such enormous pleasure in our gardens! We each have lots of favourites … you’re welcome to share your favourite with us and other RR subscribers – send a pic!

Just for an extra giggle to overlook the RR mess last week: Q. What did Mozart get when he ate baked beans? A. Classical gas!

Enjoy this last week of April and hope we see you at the Rose Farm this weekend …
Graham, Diana, Mooi and the team …

April 19, 2018July 22, 2018

ROSE RAMBLER 19TH APRIL, 2018 …

Hello dear rose friends as we now recover from a very busy time! Unfortunately, the weather this past weekend was woeful and it surprised us enormously that so many of you ventured to Silvan for the Tesselaar Plant Expo – it was so cold and the wind blew unmercifully so management there decided we should set our magnificent vases of roses in a dark but sheltered walkway with just one spotlight!

We consider ourselves very lucky because we have exhibited at many outdoor events over the past 32 years and we haven’t had such miserable weather EVER! There had to be a first time and we’re sorry it was this event because the roses were SPECTACULAR in the extreme! Here are a few photos …

GRA’S GARBLE …

Diana and her friend Marilyn did an amazing job with our magnificent display of roses in vases despite the howling wind and icy rain! We enjoyed the weekend together with delightful breakfast at Sassafras Bakery, dinner at The Cuckoo and hanging out at a lovely B&B – thanks to Ben, Leigh and Tova for manning the Rose Farm!

However I have just received my BBG Committee email and it was noted that I had to contact you re the Art and Flower (March) Show. But it was too late when the subject was addressed and consequently that date was already filled. But hoping that you will be staging another one next year we will be delighted to attend that one. Would appreciate the date and details for the next one so that we can plan for it in the next 2019 calendar.

Kindest regards from Noeline Gilmour

It was very opportune for me that the huge marquee provided refuge from inclement weather so lots of gardeners attended my presentation so they will now manage their roses with greater knowledge, use our organic rose management program and enjoy pruning their roses with confidence this winter!

Q. What do you call a cow that eats your grass? A. A lawn mooer!

GRA’S GARBLE …

Hello Diana. Nice to see you and Graham briefly last Saturday amidst the shocking weather. Good on you both for staging your roses and giving the talk Graham. Very interesting. You can’t always depend on the weather but that was ridiculous. I just felt so sorry for all the stall holders and food people. We were still there when almost everyone had left trying to keep ourselves warm and dry in the Marque. A nice warm car awaiting us and a pleasant drive back to our B&B

However I have just received my BBG Committee email and it was noted that I had to contact you re the Art and Flower (March) Show. But it was too late when the subject was addressed and consequently that date was already filled. But hoping that you will be staging another one next year we will be delighted to attend that one. Would appreciate the date and details for the next one so that we can plan for it in the next 2019 calendar.

Kindest regards from Noeline Gilmour

Q. What do you call a cow that eats your grass? A. A lawn mooer!

IDENTIFICATION OF A ROSE …

We get lots of emails about this topic and here is how it goes…

EMAIL: Subject: Can you identify this Rose?

Hello Diana, Could you or Gra possibly identify this rose for me? Also I need two Nahema roses plus 1 soul sister. Do I call you or order on line? Many thanks Virginia. NSW

What is it … ? A climber, a bush ??? Does it have an amazing fragrance ? A bit more information is very important if we are to have a go at id … talk soon

On this occasion, we probably got it right – PAPA MEILLAND. However, if you have a rose you would like to know the name of, please, send us as much information as you can – along with pictures of course. Close up is great, foliage is important and any information you provide will assist!

Dear Diana – Could you help us with some questions on our potted roses. We have large terracotta pots with straight sides. They don’t make trays to go underneath them. Should we raise them off the ground a little as they seem to send roots out if we don’t (does this matter if they do send their roots out) afnd, do potted roses need manure placed in the pots. Thanks so much – Kim

My response to this query is as follows: Every potted rose should be repotted every 2 years … if they send roots out and settle in soil then you might remove some potting mix above and around the root ball, trim those roots back and replace soil with new potting mix – I do it here very successfully with climbing roses which are planted over arches in a centre walkway of the nursery … I’ll talk about this is r/r in coming weeks …Yes, you MUST FERTILISE potted roses very frequently – at least every four weeks with quality fertilizer and eco=seaweed applications regularly just to keep potting media actively stimulated to keep the plant producing healthy foliage! Graham

Q. What do you call a pony with a cough? A. A little hoarse!

It’s now very spectacular here in the gardens with the autumn trees putting on their most spectacular display so if it’s sunny any Friday – Monday soon, do jump in the car and come for a visit. Remember, you are ALWAYS WELCOME to walk around the gardens when you come here!

Enjoy autumn in your garden – sniff every bloom because yesterday we had our first frost! Cheers from us all at Clonbinane …

April 12, 2018May 2, 2018

ROSE RAMBLER 12TH APRIL, 2018 …

Hello dear rose friends after a most amazing experience at the inaugural Upper North Shore Rose Show at Galston last weekend – thank you so much to my hosts Celia and Ian for a truly wonderful weekend in Sydney! The Rose Show was amazing with their onsite Café well stocked with scones baked by … yep, Diana up at the crack of dawn with a smile

Naturally, when I leave the Rose Farm, others have to step up and manage the nursery so thank goodness, Cooper was happy to assist his Dad, Ben and Poppy, Gra …

GRA’S GARBLE …

Let’s start with a joke…

Q. Why can’t you borrow money from a leprechaun? A. Because he’s always a little short!

We enjoy your email enquiries as they inspire us to share our knowledge through this Rose Rambler – this week we’ll cover some interesting facets of growing roses in pots …

Rosemary asks: “SHOULD I REPOT MY ROSES WHICH HAVE BEEN IN THE POTS FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS?”

Hi Rosemary … you would do well to re-pot the roses any time NOW … if there are any in really large pots, remove soil around the border (sides) of the pot, cut roots out as well and place fresh soil in the space, water in with seaweed solution and the roses will literally jump out of their pots! They’ll flower super well this season. Hope this is helpful … cheers

“HOW MUCH BIGGER SHOULD THE POTS BE?”

If you’re going to completely re-pot, why not just use the same pots? You’ll bare-root the roses, trim the roots and the tops and then plant them back into the same pots I would think??? However, if you want to get larger pots, you might increase the size by at least 20cms I guess ???

“ALSO CAN WEEPING STANDARD BE GROWN IN A POT?”

Ofcourse you CAN grow a weeper in a pot but I would only recommend such a situation if you were using the weeper to cover say, a pergola / veranda / or some other structure that the understock cane of the weeper can be well supported by such a structure. Remember, a weeping rose could easily grow a ‘head’ which is up to 2 metres diameter so unless you have a pot which is 2 metres in diameter, the head will require substantial support!

“KIM’S ROSES GROW WELL IN POTS – NOT SO WELL IN THE GROUND – WHY???”

Hi Kim … Pots work well provided you water them adequately … since you’ve been so successful, I guess there might be just a bit of an issue with those two varieties? If a rose doesn’t perform, take a look OUTSIDE THE SQUARE … is it the rose at the end of the row – on the high side (it might be dry or maybe getting more shade than it likes), perhaps the lowest point (is it too wet or not getting adequate air circulation)?

RULES TO APPLY FOR POTTED ROSES …

When roses are being kept in pots I suggest you use QUALITY POTTING MIX and don’t muck with it by adding bits and pieces … always pour ECO-SEAWEED over the entire plant at least once a fortnight and feed regularly once the rose has foliage. The bigger the pot, the bigger the plant! For roses especially, more roots and foliage, MORE FLOWERS!

“SEAWEED APPLICATION … EASY OR NOT?”

An email from Judy makes me think we glibly offer you this recommendation … “apply ECO-SEAWEED to encourage health, vigour and continual flowering …”
“JUST A SILLY QUESTION…IF YOU WANT TO GIVE THE ENTIRE GARDEN A BIT OF SEAWEED, HOW DO YOU DISTRIBUTE IT? WATERING CAN (EXHAUSTING!)…SPRAY IT ON – DOES EACH PLANT GET ENOUGH THAT WAY?”

My response Hi Judy .. I would think that your entire rose garden would be ‘seaweeded’ with oooh, 5 watering cans??? It’s a sprinkling over the roses and yes, as the bushes grow it might be exhausting with watering cans but then load up a spray unit … there are lots of small garden units available so you can get 25 – 50litres of spray distributed very economically .. worth investing in a unit similar to what we use at the Rose Farm!

Q. What did one candle say to the other candle? A. Are you going out tonight?

KABLOOM and TESSELAAR’S PLANT EXPO

This weekend we are exhibiting at this magnificent destination so do come along and see and smell our awesome display of field-grown roses – lots of new-release varieties – over 40 vases of fragrant roses will be displayed!

There is a SPECIAL OFFER during the EXPO ONLY – order any 5 BARE-ROOTED ROSES for this winter and receive one rose FREE*

(*select one of our highly recommended roses as your FREE ROSE)

Graham will be doing a presentation on stage at 10.30am on SATURDAY MORNING.

ALSO THIS WEEKEND – KILMORE ART EXPO

If you can organise a group of 8 or more, you will enjoy the following

FREE entry to Art Expo
FREE catalogue and guided walk through Art Expo
FREE entry to one of Kilmore’s finest gardens
FREE walk ‘n’ talk around Silkies Rose Farm and gardens

Here are a few pics of roses in the gardens and pots this past week …

(Top Left: MAGGIE Top Right: JEANNE LA JOIE Bottom Left: HONEY DIJON Bottom Right: APRICOT NECTAR)

Hope we catch up with you at one of these destinations this weekend – cheers from Graham, Diana, Mooi, Tova, Ben and Leigh – this weekend we’ve got our friend Marilyn helping us as well!

April 5, 2018April 12, 2018

ROSE RAMBLER, 5TH APRIL, 2018 …

Hello dear rose friends in the peak of one of the most magnificent seasons for roses and gardens generally! Our gardens and the potted roses look sensational so do make an effort to attend

ART & ROSES – WALK AND TALK IN THE GARDEN WITH BEN ON SATURDAY, 14TH and with GRAHAM ON SUNDAY, 15TH

CLARIFICATION ABOUT CLIMBING ROSES …

I received this email after an article presented in Rose Rambler last week:

“Hi Diana, I bought a fragrant dark red climbing rose from you called DON JUAN. It is probably in too exposed a position to have grown to its best potential, but it is slowly filling a wire obelisk I gave it for support. I didn’t realise it was a climber when I bought it and I would have chosen a different location if I had noticed it was a climber on the tag before I planted it, but I didn’t want to move it once it was in. It is on the end of a row of red roses.

Eventually, I hope it is a spectacular pillar. The scent is gorgeous. Just thought I would remind you of it since you didn’t mention it as an alternative to MR LINCOLN, CLB. Kind Regards, Sarah”

MY RESPONSE: “Hi Sarah … how lovely to read this email … you know, DON JUAN is still one of Graham’s most favourite CLIMBING RED roses and I’m almost 100% sure that he sent budwoodso that we will have DON JUAN plants later this winter … confirming: WE WILL HAVE 20 plants available in July this year and you MUST CALL THE NURSERY on 03 5787 1123 if you wish to order!

Yes, it is a climber … sometimes, when a rose is ONLY grown as a climber, we name the rose exactly as is … for example, DON JUAN – RENAE – CREPUSCULE – ALTISSIMO – lots more climbing roses which are ONLY CLIMBING ROSES! When a rose such as BLUE MOON orICEBERG (and lots of others) have a CLIMBING derivative (called a ‘sport’ usually) then we refer to the rose by its name and add the word CLIMBING on the plant tag.

Sorry for the confusion and I’m so glad you are pleased with DON JUAN in your garden! Best wishes and Happy Easter … DIANA”

GRA’S GARBLE …

Since we’re talking about climbing roses, let me show you a few more amazing climbing roses which give EVERYTHING you want in a rose garden:

PERFUME
FLOWERING FOR 9 MONTHS OF THE YEAR
STAND-OUT OR BLEND-IN COLOURS
EASY TO PRUNE – JUST EASY CARE ALL-ROUND
GIVE YOU OOOH … AAAH IN YOUR GARDEN
MAKE A STATEMENT

BLOSSOMTIME : what a gorgeous spice and apple fragrance! Perfectly formed mid-pink inner petals with dark pink shades outside make this such a particularly pretty specimen rose suitable for a vase and definitely a strikingly healthy specimen to scramble over a 2 x 2 metre lattice or fence … highly recommended climbing rose!

Pause for a joke: Q. Why did the man run around his bed? A. Because he was trying to catch up on his sleep!

DUBLIN BAY: is one of the very BEST pillar-box-red climbing roses … always in flower, always healthy and neatly fits in a fan shape against even the most hot location; a brilliant climbing/pillar rose which, for me, exudes a subtle but distinct rose fragrance.

ALOHA: such a unique colour and flower shape – I cannot get over how truly lovely this rose is and it is destined to be planted in a very prominent location in our gardens this autumn – I simply love this rose and highly recommend it for a climber in your garden!

Have a great week in your autumn rose garden … keep trimming and grooming spent flowers to encourage more growth and flowers right up into winter … close with a joke:

Q. Can a kangaroo jump higher than the Empire State Building? A. Of course! The Empire State Building can’t jump!!!

Remember, children and grandchildren are watching you when you garden – that’s how they learn about Mother Nature so take them into the garden with you!

If you’re in Sydney this weekend, pop into the Galston Community Centre on Sunday, 8th April and visit with me, Diana at the Upper North Shore Rose Show – I would LOVE to see lots of our customers and friends at this inaugural rose show.

Enjoy all the moments in your garden during this awesome season – Diana & Graham

March 29, 2018May 2, 2018

ROSE RAMBLER, 29TH MARCH, 2018

ROSE RAMBLER, 29TH MARCH, 2018 …

Hello dear rose friends as we now enter a very busy time here at the Rose Farm and away at different events …

EASTER TRADING HOURS CLOSED GOOD FRIDAY – OPEN SAT SUN MON AS USUAL – 9AM – 4PM

UNSH Rose Regional shared Rose Sales Online’s post: “Diana Sargeant from Rose Sales Online is flying up from Victoria to be with UNSH on Sunday 8th April 2018 11am -5.30 pm Galston Community Centre, 37 Arcadia Rd, Galston. Meet Diana, have a chat, see the beautiful Rose Display. Her book “All About Roses” will be for sale, she will autograph it. Enjoy the teas and other stalls.”

Then, I also hope you’ve booked to come to Art & Roses or Tesselaar’s Plant Expo on either Saturday or Sunday of the following weekend!

Please call me on 03 5787 1123 for more information about the above events.

GRA’S GARBLE …

Firstly, thanks for your messages when the rose I bred, GRA’S BLUE, was awarded: Rose of the Month, March, 2018, an initiative of AusRose Promotions. Now, GRA’S BLUE is also in the running for AUSTRALIAN BRED ROSE OF THE YEAR, 2018 and we’ll let you know when you can vote accordingly.

MULCHING YOUR GARDEN …

It is said that mulching is the first essential for any Australian garden. Mulch provides food for worms (who will start breeding soon) and also provides organic matter for a well-balanced and vital soil.

Mulch prevents run-off of top soil thus reducing erosion. We use all types of mulch on our gardens –

LUCERNE – acts as food for worms, provides green manure and encourages soil microbes to proliferate as it leaches nutrients into the soil;

PEA STRAW – good open mulch to allow moisture penetration and natural nitrogen for plant leaf growth;

WHEAT/OAT STRAW – supplies silica nutrient for stem growth and is very easy to apply. (Editor – Diana: this straw also grows the most amazing weeds you ever did see which Gra calls GREEN MANURE and which I call A MESS.)

EUCY MULCH – we use thick layers of this product on garden borders and paths rather than around our roses.

To retain warmth and moisture in your soil right up until winter, it is important to top-up the mulch NOW to provide ideal conditions for worms to breed – remember, they’re the army of workers you want in your garden as they aerate and fertilize the soil naturally!

CLIMBING ROSES … CHALLENGING?

Yes, they can be and it is especially important to get advice when selecting the right variety for your location and you are welcome to send pictures and dimensions via email: info@rosesalesonline.com.au so that we can give you the best advice for successful climbing rose growing. If you nominate the colour and any other specific requirements, we’ll suggest the variety to best suit your garden.

Here’s an email from Alison: “I’m a bit disappointed in Mr Lincoln (climber) who has barely flowered but has put out huge long canes that I don’t know what to do with. I’m guessing the care advice will be the same as your last reply but how do I manage these canes? The wire for them runs under the fascia on the verandah.”

( Left: MR LINCOLN RIGHT:MR. LINCOLN CLIMBING )

MY RESPONSE: I don’t like MR. LINCOLN CLIMBING for that reason … great arching canes which carry the most ferocious thorns! There isn’t a red climbing rose with just a few thorns so there’s a HUGE gap in the rose market for a highly fragrant dark red CLIMBING rose! I’ll ask Graham to do breeding with … NAHEMA X FIREFIGHTER which might result in a less thorny, highly fragrant, dark red climbing rose … Ha Ha!

(BOTTOM: NAHEMA TOP: FIREFIGHTER)

Meantime, I think GUINEA (not as highly fragrant) or PAPA MEILLAND, CLB. are more gentle dark red, climbing roses. MR. LINCOLN, CLB. needs to be strapped to a wall or fence – definitely NOT near where there is human traffic!

( TOP: GUINEA MIDDLE: PAPA MEILLAND BOTTOM: MR. LINCOLN CLIMBING)

For a situation where you have wires under the fascia of the verandah, I would more highly recommend RENAE, CREPUSCULE, PINKIE or others which are more well-foliaged and way less thorny!

TOP: RENAE MIDDLE: CREPUSCULE BOTTOM: PINKIE

HOT CHOCOLATE or HOT COCOA … What better way to avoid weight increase this Easter … buy either one of these beauties which are flowering now …

(BOTTOM: HOT CHOCOLATE TOP: HOT COCOA)

Have a HAPPY EASTER with family and friends … see you real soon here at the Rose Farm in Clonbinane or at one of our events …

Diana, Graham and Mooi

March 22, 2018May 2, 2018

ROSE RAMBLER 22.3.2018

ROSE RAMBLER: 22nd March 2018

Hello dear rose friends and a HUGE THANK YOU for placing orders for winter in the first few days of our online store opening for bare-rooted orders; a special thank you to those who found a few ‘glitches’ and emailed to let us and our IT team know what was happening!

If you have concerns or issues with ordering roses for this winter, please don’t hesitate to email: info@rosesalesonline.com.au and remember, you can still order POTTED ROSES to be posted anytime NOW. Here’s a picture of SOUL MATE which was posted last week as a GIFT ROSE …

The roses look sensational and are flowering beautifully so if you prefer to plant your roses in autumn while the soil is still warm and conditions prevail to ensure the roses settle well, you’ll give them a light winter prune and have magnificent established plants flowering in Spring this year.

We always recommend: DO NOT COMPROMISE! If a certain variety isn’t available NOW, don’t buy just any rose because you adamantly wish to plant NOW! Please wait until the varieties you’ve researched and pined for are available in winter … it’s not that long before you’ll be planting – just 8 – 12 weeks away, depending on variety!

Worth waiting for, I assure you!

PREPARING BEDS FOR NEW ROSES THIS WINTER …

When an order comes in, I ALWAYS respond immediately even thought the computer generates an automated response!

Here’s typical dialogue with our customers:

Hello Lyndell … thank you for your order. What a beaut selection of varieties!!! I’ll contact you prior to posting the roses so you know to expect them … meantime, get digging and dunging! CheersLyndell responded: Ha ha …. every intension of digging and dunging. What do you recommend? Cow, sheep, horse? We are making a whole new rose bed so glad we have a few months to get it all ready to plant – can’t wait.

So I responded: EVERY LITTLE BIT OF ANY KIND because you’ve got lots of time to have it all rot down into a PERFECT blend for roses! Be sure to water over the entire garden bed with seaweed solution every say, week or two and keep the entire area nice and moist so the worms come up and do all the back-breaking work of aerating the soil!!! They’re the army you want onside but you have to make it irresistible enough for worms to come and work for YOU! Enjoy the preparation because I just know you will DEFINITELY enjoy the rewards of magnificent roses for many years – especially since you’re doing all this beaut preparation!!! Cheers … Diana

GRA’S GARBLE …

With the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show on this week, I hope you stop in and take a look at the Royal Horticultural Society of Victoria hanging basket competition – Silkies Rose Farm are represented with a magnificent basket of PURPLE RAIN

and do stop in and say hello to Steve and the crew at Organic Crop Protectants stand B23 – they have great show specials on all the organic rose-management products so you can pick up a bargain!

Q. What do you call a flying policeman? A. A heli-copper.

Hi Diana and Graham – You didn’t mention what time of day the “Eco-Organic Management Program” should be applied – in the morning at watering time (seems sensible but maybe not advised because of the oil) or in the evening? Please let us know! Thanks and Regards – Sue

MY RESPONSE … Sorry … sometimes I forget that there are ‘new subscribers’ every day and I should repeat myself constantly – most especially on this VERY IMPORTANT aspect of rose management – yes preferred in the morning when the stomata (pores) is open and NEVER when temperatures expected to exceed 28-30 degrees. If it suits you best to do the program in the evening because of work commitments, it’s better than not doing it but you do run a risk of having damp foliage overnight! Hope this is helpful … cheers … GRAHAM

Q. Did you hear about the two antennas that got married? A. The wedding ceremony wasn’t too good, but the reception was great!

FRAGRANCE OR SCENT IN ROSES …

It is the fragrance of the rose that above all, has been responsible for its enduring popularity throughout the Ages.

Rose scent, which is carried largely in the petals (though sometimes in the stamens) of the flower, is emitted into the air most strongly when the growth of the flower and the atmospheric conditions are perfectly aligned.

Often, on warm days, it’s a good idea to smell a rose then come back to it an hour or so later to give that ‘double-whammy’ effect. Rose perfume goes straight to your brain!

Customers in the nursery yesterday … she said: “He can never smell a rose when I know it has an amazing fragrance” … he said: “She cannot smell any of the roses which I like”. Very challenging so I picked up the jar of instant coffee and asked him to take a sniff of the coffee and then stick his nose into the rose which she thought was so lovely.

You won’t believe me I guess but he turned around, AMAZED that YES, he could indeed smell the most beautiful fragrance. Obviously, to reinforce and prove my point, I asked her to take a whiff of the instant coffee then smell the rose which HE thought had magnificent perfume … You’re right, she was stunned that she could smell exactly what he could!!!

YOU MUST CLEAR THE OLFACTORY GLAND CONSTANTLY WHEN TESTING FOR FRAGRANCE and coffee beans/grounds or a tea bag are handy accompaniments when next visiting a rose garden to experience the true fragrance of roses!

It is my experience that people remember the perfume of a particular rose from 30 to 40 years ago – such is the power of our senses and for a truly sensational experience of rose fragrance, stick your nose into

(Top: Camp David, Left: Double Delight, Right: Duchesse De Brabant)

All the above roses are available for planting in your garden NOW …

We might bump into you wandering down the aisles at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show … enjoy Melbourne and wherever you are during this magnificent autumn!

March 8, 2018May 2, 2018

ROSE RAMBLER 8.03.2018 …

ROSE RAMBLER 8TH MARCH, 2018 …

Hello, dear rose friends … it’s been such glorious weather here which gives us brilliant opportunity to spend more time in the garden – I’ve been planting roses which I held over from last winter!!! Tova was bursting with enthusiasm to have a ‘planting day’ to savour watering those potted roses which begged to be planted in my garden! Graham’s turn next week!!!

Autumn is an ideal time for planting and since it’s another long weekend with a public holiday on Monday in most States, take the kids to your local garden centre to get punnets of veggies and flower seedlings – get down and dirty in the garden together which makes caring for your garden a whole family responsibility and pleasure!

PANSY BORDER PLANTED 5TH MARCH 2018, which will give enormous pleasure throughout the whole year – see this pic of how pretty the garden bed is when roses start flowering in October too …

GRA’S GARBLE …

… it’s autumn so here are some tips on HOW TO FERTILIZE YOUR ROSE GARDEN … Fertilizing your roses in autumn is a very important task and your plants will reward you immensely when they are fed with high-quality products to ensure they flower right up into winter.

We are so lucky now that science has produced easy-to-use fertilizers with a complete package of nutrients so that we don’t have to purchase a little bag of this and another bag of that. Just buy a quality ALL PURPOSE FERTILIZER and spread it over the entire root zone of the plants. Remember, a rose which is growing in well fertilized, the humus-rich soil will naturally be far more able to resist any pest and disease problems!

We’ve only got one small space to put nutrients into our bodies – yes, our mouth. The clever mechanism of our body distributes all the goodness from that food throughout our entire system.

Plants are similar in that they spread feeder roots below their entire growth canopy so if you only throw the fertilizer at the ‘neck’ of the plant, that fertilizer isn’t being distributed evenly for the plant to be able to utilise it. Take some time to lightly distribute the fertilizer around the entire root-zone/growth canopy of your roses. Fertilize every eight weeks and enjoy the rewards – greater quantity of bigger blooms on sturdy, healthy bushes.

To get up to 30% more flowers on your roses, water ECO-SEAWEED solution over the rose bushes at least twice a month – you can add the ‘protectors’ – ECO-ROSE/FUNGICIDE to prevent fungus and ECO-OIL to prevent insect attack or act as a ‘sticker’. Your roses will be superbly protected, energised and flower prolifically through this magnificent autumn.

The profusion of flowers on MOLINEUX is not an accident but good management and we consider MOLINEUX one of the BEST yellow roses we stock!

A notice at a Dublin building site: THE SHOVELS HAVEN’T ARRIVED YET AND UNTIL THEY DO, WE WILL HAVE TO LEAN ON EACH OTHER.

YOUR GARDEN CAN BE YOUR DOCTOR …

Research has shown that gardening for 30 to 45 minutes per day is the equivalent exercise to walking 3kms for 40 minutes or cycling 8kms in 30 minutes.
That’s not just out walking and smelling the roses! However, just out walking and smelling the roses will add years and years of goodness to your life and change your mood, every time.

A recent ‘green space’ report has shown that 91% of people believe that parks and gardens have a positive effect on our quality of life, contributing more to our wellbeing than our jobs, our sex-life, money or religion. Is it natural to want to be with Mother Nature? The plants and flowers, of course, are essential to meet the needs of all our senses and roses are great because they flower for up to eight months of the year.

Q. What do you get when you cross a computer programmer with an athlete? A. A floppy discus thrower!

NEXT WEEK

rosesalesonline.com.au will be open for ORDERING BARE-ROOTED ROSES for delivery this winter. Of the 2018 NEW RELEASE ROSES which are so magnificent – here is one we’ve been watching closely which we urge you to store in your wish-list …

PER-FYOOM PERFUME is a most amazingly healthy and free-flowering variety with an interesting petal formation but most especially, a perfume to die for! Yes, this is going to be our PREMIER ROSE FOR 2018 SEASON … I can’t wait for you all to grow this beauty and be as enamoured as we are!

PER-FYOOM PERFUME in our garden this week … ALSO PER-FYOOM PERFUME FOLIAGE

I’m busy loading pictures and descriptions so the website is ready to go live next week … meantime, you can always call me Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday 03 5787 1123 or email info@rosesalesonline.com.au to discuss your order.

Enjoy this long weekend with family and friends … we’ll be open as usual so perhaps come for a visit to Clonbinane …

March 1, 2018May 2, 2018

ROSE RAMBLER 1.03.2018 …

ROSE RAMBLER 01.03.2018 …

Hello, dear rose friends and welcome to autumn … phew, we got there after some truly amazing summer weather, our roses will now be at their most spectacular best throughout this most magnificent season!

We just LOVE autumn in our garden because of the spectacular ornamental trees – stunningly pretty for many weeks and we’ll let you know when they are at their best so that you can plan a visit during that time.

GRA’S GARBLE …

This joke was contributed by Judith …

Q. Why did the butterfly flutter by? A. Because it had helped the dragonfly drain the flagon dry.

MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – FOUR ESSENTIALS OF A GREAT ROSE:

1.    IS IT FRAGRANT?  Seriously necessary reason to plant a rose in the garden!
2.   IS IT HEALTHY?  A strong, vigorous rose will give pleasure for many years!
3.   IS IT LONG-LASTING IN A VASE?  Taking roses into your home is wonderful!
4.    IS THE LOCATION IN MY GARDEN OK?  Minimum 6 hours of sun is all it needs!

Since autumn is a great season for GARDENING, here are just FOUR ROSES which I highly recommend for PLANTING NOW … the nursery is abundant with beautiful potted roses; you can continue to order potted roses online at www.rosesalesonline.com.au and have them delivered to your door – if you plant now, during autumn, you’ll have the most amazing, fully established roses flowering this coming spring!

MR. LINCOLN is such a strong grower and has the most amazing fragrance of all the red roses – it’s a reliable rose in all climates, it produces masses of perfectly formed, long-stemmed blooms in abundance all season – our MOST POPULAR RED ROSE for years!

POPE JOHN PAUL II has awesome fragrance … like to die for PERFUME! Magnificently sweet, fruity perfume that you wish you could bottle! The purest white blooms are perfectly formed and make an ideal rose to cut for a vase to place indoors – just one bloom will give you incredible fragrance throughout your home.

TROPICAL SUNSET is one of the most beautiful striped roses you could EVER WISH TO PLANT IN YOUR GARDEN! It is such an immensely robust bush which freely produces masses of perfectly formed blooms with glorious slashes of apricot/creamy-yellow – a vase of this beautiful rose on your kitchen bench will ease any stress and awe you!

DOUBLE DELIGHT has been around FOREVER and prevails as one of the most highly fragrant and delightful (pardon the pun) roses you should grow in your garden as it produces lovely long-stemmed blooms of cream, tinged carmine at the edge of each petal … a seriously beautiful rose which has been a NO. 1 most popular rose forever!

I could go on and on with recommending roses which you should plant in your garden to guarantee pleasure and fragrance – stay posted to my ‘GARBLING’ and I’ll tell you which roses to place on your bare-rooted rose order this winter!!!

Q. What did one eye say to the other eye? A. Between you and me, something SMELLS!

AUTUMN SPECIAL …

because I know that you will harvest and enjoy more than 30% more blooms, fruits and vegetables if you apply ECO-SEAWEED at least ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS, I am offering every 600g pack at a SPECIAL AUTUMN PRICE OF $25.00 – normal rrp $32.50 so stock up now and use this fabulous product on your garden as frequently as I do!

Whether you order online at www.rosesalesonline.com.au or come to the Rose Farm to purchase ECO-SEAWEED during March, you will receive a FREE PASS to the value of $50 to ‘KABLOOM’ Festival of Flowers from March 30 until the weekend when we present our own spectacular rose flowers during PLANT EXPO weekend Sat. 14th and Sun. 15th April. Lock in the dates as I will be speaking on Saturday, 14th!

The results of using ECO-SEAWEED on all the plants in your garden will amaze you! Enjoy all the glory of autumn … Gra

DIANA’S BOOK – ALL ABOUT ROSES … globally recognised …

“Hi, My name is David and I live in the San Francisco bay area. I recently started reading All About Roses and decided to look up your website. I really love Diana’s story and this email is in hopes of asking for advice from her.

I recently realized my passion for roses and it’s my dream now to have a rose garden + farm. Other than the aesthetics, fragrance, and symbolism of roses, I’m passionate about growing them locally and contribute to the environment and economy. A little about me: I’m 41 and have been working in Silicon Valley as a UI designer. So, the world of roses (and farming) is brand new to me. But I started volunteering at a rose garden 2 months ago and have been doing research on roses, farming, soils, etc.

I’d like to ask Diana: What’s the best way for me to start and learn? What else should I think about before I venture further into roses as a business? My gut instinct says “Go work at a rose farm and learn on the job”, but at the same time, I could invest some time in education, some kind of certification, attend a farm school, etc. and make myself more valuable before working for a farm.

Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for sharing your knowledge about roses in your book. Cheers, David”

MY RESPONSE: Hello David … I’m not sure whether I wrote it in the book, think I did … “I used to take rose catalogues and journals to read in bed!!! I closed my eyes for years and years, dreaming of roses and knowing their names and being a part of who they are!”
You don’t need certification, you don’t need to attend school … you need a burning passion and love for the ROSE … the rest all comes naturally. I also love animals and humans … I have a good, friendly attitude about life generally … I’m positive even when the weather is 48 degrees C and my roses are cooking, I can love them and know they’ll pull through and be beautiful in their own time!
You are welcome to email me – go to the local rose farm and get clues … I’ve had staff work with me in the past 32 years – one of them set up her own business but only lasted a few years … it takes stamina and passion of the ultimate … do it and love it and you will be eternally happy sharing your love of roses and caring for the environment. Talk soon perhaps … best wishes and thank you for telling me how much you enjoyed my book! The world NEEDS more passionate gardeners!!! Cheers … DIANA

ORDERING BARE-ROOTED ROSES FOR WINTER …

We are almost ready to open bare-rooted roses in our online store www.rosesalesonline.com.au where you can open a WISH LIST and start to select all the lovely new release roses for 2018 along with our regular list of more than 300 varieties which we confidently recommend you grow in your garden.

Remember, “Patience is a virtue”!

You’re welcome to call us at the Rose Farm any Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday to open an order for your bare-rooted roses which will be posted/available for pick-up from late May …

Meantime, enjoy the glory of your garden during the cooler months of autumn … best wishes from us all at Silkies Rose Farm, Clonbinane … Graham and Diana